Dwayne Hoover, the most respected business man in Midland City, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown- yet his identity as the leader of the town's financial empire continues to flourish as he slowly descends from semi-sanity into madness. At the same time, Kilgore Trout, a misunderstood, impoverished writer is making a cross-country odyssey to Midland City to be the guest of honor at the town's first fine arts festival. In search of answers to his crumbling world and in desperation to hear a new voice, Dwayne Hoover attends the festival. When Hoover and Trout finally meet their two worlds collide, setting forth a ripple of events that will alter both men's lives- along with Midland City, forever.